Pony bottles/spare air

[Frosty]

Hey folks can I ask why spare air bottles.pony bottles etc don't just run their hoses from their first stage right alongside/fixed to your main hose to your reg and into a Y connector to your regulator. Ie have tap that takes the air from your main bottle then flip the lever to go onto your emergency air. Wouldn't that uncomplicate hoses etc?

 

[live_2_dive]

That would add a lot of components...and for any divers that don't have/carry spare air/pony then they would just have extra hoses/gear they can't use


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PADI Rescue/DM 09100Z7445
Dr Dive/Wet Dream/Sea Cobra/Y-Knot/H2OBelow

Diving is my passion...I live to dive!

 

[Dr. Lecter]

More complicated; additional faiure point; less redundant.

 

[chrpai]

Spare air aside... the point of a redundant air system is to be redundant. I can sling a pony across my chest with the second stage secured to the bottle and it's not complicated at all. If my buddy has a problem I can pass him my long hose or the whole pony.

 

[Hatul]

Your idea would not make a redundant air source. With a traditional pony system you have a completely separate system that works regardless of where the failure of the main Scuba unit.

 

[DaleC]

The most common/only failure I have ever experienced is a second stage freeflow. Any problem downstream of the first stage and you lose all the benefits of a second tank.

Plus I don't know how to plumb that into a double hose.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

I don't believe you want to put a Y-valve on a LP hose. If the 1st stage went to free flow (iced up) you would blow the valve or the LP hose with 3000 PSI.

Keeping the systems separate is simple and effective.

 

[DevonDiver]

If a problem arose with your 2nd stage, such as; torn diaphragm, exhaust valve or mouthpiece detachment.... then you'd have no redundancy.

K.I.S.S. principle applies - you can't get simpler than a complete redundant system.

 

[windapp]

Follow up question.

Any reason not to use the second stage from your pony as your octo?

 

[DaleC]

I do sometimes, depending on the rig/regset I'm using. Many of the regular buddies I dive with use/are familiar with ponies so indicating that it is the alternate/octo reg isn't a big deal. For an unfamiliar (to ponies) diver I either show them how to deploy or clip the second stage off in the triangle like they are used to (depending where they are skill/comfort wise).

At the risk of shameless self promotion, here's a video that I made for our scuba clubs monthly meeting wherein I am doing so:

[video=youtube;lYP1aM0g8lU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYP1aM0g8lU&list=UU5zvhnU0XYpf_cadpYJYkhQ& index=1&feature=plcp[/video]